Performance Optimization of the Arbitrary Arrays with Randomly Distributed Elements for Wireless Sensor Networks

Beamforming using regular linear or planar arrays, in which their elements are uniformly spaced is widely studied for various applications. However, in the wireless sensor network applications, such regular arrays are not possible to build. Thus, they are usually built with randomly distributed planar elements. Generating the required beamforming from such randomly distributed arrays that can provide a significant improvement in the wireless sensor network performance is a real challenging issue. In this paper, the amplitude and phase of each random element within the arbitrary bounded area is optimized such that its corresponding array pattern acts as a beam-steerable with minimum sidelobe level and a certain beamwidth. Simulation results under various optimization constraints are given to show the effectiveness of the considered random array. The effect of changing the total number of array elements on the array performance, such as beamwidth, minimum sidelobe level, and the gain were also investigated

Collaborative signal and information processing for target detection with heterogeneous sensor networks

In this paper, an approach for target detection and acquisition with heterogeneous sensor networks through strategic resource allocation and coordination is presented. Based on sensor management and collaborative signal and information processing, low-capacity low-cost sensors are strategically deployed to guide and cue scarce high performance sensors in the network to improve the data quality, with which the mission is eventually completed more efficiently with lower cost. We focus on the problem of designing such a network system in which issues of resource selection and allocation, system behaviour and capacity, target behaviour and patterns, the environment, and multiple constraints such as the cost must be addressed simultaneously. Simulation results offer significant insight into sensor selection and network operation, and demonstrate the great benefits introduced by guided search in an application of hunting down and capturing hostile vehicles on the battlefield

A review on frequency synchronization in collaborative beamforming: a practical approach

Coherent signal reception from distributed beamforming nodes of virtual antenna array formation requires frequency synchronization of the participating nodes. Signals at the target receiver are out of phase due to unsynchronized local oscillator’s (LO) reference signal of all the nodes in the systems. Practical cases of this problem are considered. In this article, a brief overview is presented of the need for the frequency synchronization and the resulting effect of mitigation avoidance. A variant of the closed-loop feedback algorithm is used to provide LO drifts information to the beamforming transmitters. These feedbacks are used to estimate, correct, and predict the nonlinear LO offsets that will result in near (0) phase offset of the received signal. The algorithms are implemented in software defined radio (SDR) and transmitted through the RF front end of devices like the NI 2920/N210 USRP

Redes de sensores seguras y eficientes con beamforming

Mejorar la eficiencia energética de las redes de sensores (WSN, por sus siglas en inglés) es uno de sus principales objetivos de diseño. De entre las distintas líneas de trabajo existentes en esta área, el uso del conformado del haz, o beamforming, está en auge en la actualidad, ya que proporciona una forma de transmitir señales de radio muy eficiente hacia un conjunto dado de direcciones destino. En este trabajo, el beamforming se ha utilizado para incrementar, por una parte, el tiempo de vida de las WSNs y, por otro, el nivel de seguridad de la red, evitando establecer comunicaciones en direcciones donde se conoce la existencia de nodos enemigos. El problema se ha formulado agregando dichos objetivos en una única función de fitness, y cuyas soluciones tentativas están compuestas por las amplitudes y fases de las antenas instaladas en los nodos de la WSN. Sobre distintos escenarios sintéticos, los resultados han mostrado que es posible reducir el consumo energético de una WSN y, a la vez, proporcionar comunicaciones seguras ante la presencia de posibles atacantes.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. Plan Nacional de Investigación del Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad bajo el proyecto TIN2016-75097-P

Review of Distributed Beamforming, Journal of Telecommunications and Information Technology, 2011, nr 1

As the capabilities of individual nodes in wireless sensor networks increase, so does the opportunity to perform more complicated tasks, such as cooperative distributed beam- forming to improve the range of communications and save precious battery power during the transmission. This work presents a review of the current literature focused on implementing distributed beamformers; covering the calculation of ideal beamforming weights, practical considerations such as carrier alignment, smart antennas based on distributed beamformers, and open research problems in the field of distributed beamforming

Advanced MIMO Techniques: Polarization Diversity and Antenna Selection

International audienceThis chapter is attempted to provide a survey of the advanced concepts and related issues involved in Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) systems. MIMO system technology has been considered as a really significant foundation on which to build the next and future generations of wireless networks. The chapter addresses advanced MIMO techniques such as polarization diversity and antenna selection. We gradually provide an overview of the MIMO features from basic to more advanced topics. The first sections of this chapter start by introducing the key aspects of theMIMO theory. TheMIMO systemmodel is first presented in a genericway. Then, we proceed to describe diversity schemes used in MIMO systems. MIMO technology could exploit several diversity techniques beyond the spatial diversity. These techniques essentially cover frequency diversity, time diversity and polarization diversity. We further provide the reader with a geometrically based models for MIMO systems. The virtue of this channel modeling is to adopt realisticmethods for modeling the spatio-temporal channel statistics from a physical wave-propagation viewpoint. Two classes for MIMO channel modeling will be described. These models involve the Geometry-based Stochastic ChannelModels (GSCM) and the Stochastic channel models. Besides the listedMIMO channel models already described, we derive and discuss capacity formulas for transmission over MIMO systems. The achieved MIMO capacities highlight the potential of spatial diversity for improving the spectral efficiency of MIMO channels. When Channel State Information (CSI) is available at both ends of the transmission link, the MIMO system capacity is optimally derived by using adaptive power allocation based on water-filling technique. The chapter continues by examining the combining techniques for multiple antenna systems. Combining techniques are motivated for MIMO systems since they enable the signal to noise ratio (SNR) maximization at the combiner output. The fundamental combing techniques are the Maximal Ratio Combining (MRC), the Selection Combining (SC) and the Equal Gain Combining(EGC). Once the combining techniques are analyzed, the reader is introduced to the beamforming processing as an optimal strategy for combining. The use of multiple antennas significantly improves the channel spectral efficiency. Nevertheless, this induces higher system complexity of the communication system and the communication system performance is effected due to correlation between antennas that need to be deployed at the same terminal. As such, the antenna selection algorithm for MIMO systems is presented. To elaborate on this point, we introduce Space time coding techniques for MIMO systems and we evaluate by simulation the performance of the communication system. Next, we emphasis on multi polarization techniques for MIMO systems. As a background, we presume that the reader has a thorough understanding of antenna theory. We recall the basic antenna theory and concepts that are used throughout the rest of the chapter. We rigorously introduce the 3D channel model over the Non-Line of Sight (NLOS) propagation channel for MIMO system with polarized antennas. We treat the depolarization phenomena and we study its effect on MIMO system capacity. The last section of the chapter provides a scenario for collaborative sensor nodes performing distributed MIMO system model which is devoted to sensor node localization in Wireless Sensor Networks. The localization algorithm is based on beamforming processing and was tested by simulation. Our chapter provides the reader by simulation examples for almost all the topics that have been treated for MIMO system development and key issues affecting achieved performance

Improving Channel Estimation and Tracking Performance in Distributed MIMO Communication Systems

This dissertation develops and analyzes several techniques for improving channel estimation and tracking performance in distributed multi-input multi-output (D-MIMO) wireless communication systems. D-MIMO communication systems have been studied for the last decade and are known to offer the benefits of antenna arrays, e.g., improved range and data rates, to systems of single-antenna devices. D-MIMO communication systems are considered a promising technology for future wireless standards including advanced cellular communication systems. This dissertation considers problems related to channel estimation and tracking in D-MIMO communication systems and is focused on three related topics: (i) characterizing oscillator stability for nodes in D-MIMO systems, (ii) the development of an optimal unified tracking framework and a performance comparison to previously considered sub-optimal tracking approaches, and (iii) incorporating independent kinematics into dynamic channel models and using accelerometers to improve channel tracking performance. A key challenge of D-MIMO systems is estimating and tracking the time-varying channels present between each pair of nodes in the system. Even if the propagation channel between a pair of nodes is time-invariant, the independent local oscillators in each node cause the carrier phases and frequencies and the effective channels between the nodes to have random time-varying phase offsets. The first part of this dissertation considers the problem of characterizing the stability parameters of the oscillators used as references for the transmitted waveforms. Having good estimates of these parameters is critical to facilitate optimal tracking of the phase and frequency offsets. We develop a new method for estimating these oscillator stability parameters based on Allan deviation measurements and compare this method to several previously developed parameter estimation techniques based on innovation covariance whitening. The Allan deviation method is validated with both simulations and experimental data from low-precision and high-precision oscillators. The second part of this dissertation considers a D-MIMO scenario with $N_t$ transmitters and $N_r$ receivers. While there are $N_t imes N_r$ node-to-node pairwise channels in such a system, there are only $N_t + N_r$ independent oscillators. We develop a new unified tracking model where one Kalman filter jointly tracks all of the pairwise channels and compare the performance of unified tracking to previously developed suboptimal local tracking approaches where the channels are not jointly tracked. Numerical results show that unified tracking tends to provide similar beamforming performance to local tracking but can provide significantly better nullforming performance in some scenarios. The third part of this dissertation considers a scenario where the transmit nodes in a D-MIMO system have independent kinematics. In general, this makes the channel tracking problem more difficult since the independent kinematics make the D-MIMO channels less predictable. We develop dynamics models which incorporate the effects of acceleration on oscillator frequency and displacement on propagation time. The tracking performance of a system with conventional feedback is compared to a system with conventional feedback and local accelerometer measurements. Numerical results show that the tracking performance is significantly improved with local accelerometer measurements